ID :
101761
Fri, 01/22/2010 - 14:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/101761
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean icebreaker links up with Russian Antarctic ship
ABOARD THE ARAON, Southern Ocean, Jan. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean icebreaker Araon rendezvoused with a Russian escort ship on Friday that will help it navigate in Antarctic waters and examine candidate sites for a second scientific research station on the frozen continent.
The 7,487-ton icebreaker and research ship waited one day before meeting the
Russian icebreaker Akademik Petrov at 70 degrees 49n minutes south latitude and
132 degrees 40 minutes west longitude at around 9:00 a.m.
Because the ship has yet to test its ability to break through ice, it plans to
allow the Akademik Petrov to lead as its heads for Cape Burks on the western part
of the continent, which is one of two candidate sites for Seoul's second base on
Antarctica.
The ship will conduct key surveys at Cape Burks up till early next month and
reach Terra Nova Bay -- the second candidate site for a new research base --
after Feb. 7. Araon left Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan. 12.
Meanwhile, six members from the Araon are expected to fly over to the Russian
ship later in the day by helicopter to start learning the necessary knowhow for
sailing through sheet ice. The first officer from Akademik Petrov will also
transfer over to the Araon to help the crew maneuver the ship in the Southern
Ocean.
In the coming days, the Araon will test its capability to cut through ice up to 1
meter thick at 5.5 kilometers per hour.
After completing the surveys of both sites, the Korean icebreaker will reach
Christchurch on Feb. 19, completing its first mission, and arriving at South
Korea's port of Incheon in mid-March.
Christened last year and equipped with various oceanographic, geophysical and
arctic environment laboratories, the ship has an endurance of 37,000 kilometers,
or about 70 days. It is also designed to provide logistical support to South
Korea's King Sejong Station located on King George Island.
In 2008, South Korea announced plans to open another base in Antarctica sometime
after 2011 to expand its research capabilities on the world's southernmost
continent and gain more experience about extreme conditions on the Earth's polar
region.
In addition to the Antarctic base, the country has an Arctic research facility
called Dasan Station, in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard Islands in Norway.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
The 7,487-ton icebreaker and research ship waited one day before meeting the
Russian icebreaker Akademik Petrov at 70 degrees 49n minutes south latitude and
132 degrees 40 minutes west longitude at around 9:00 a.m.
Because the ship has yet to test its ability to break through ice, it plans to
allow the Akademik Petrov to lead as its heads for Cape Burks on the western part
of the continent, which is one of two candidate sites for Seoul's second base on
Antarctica.
The ship will conduct key surveys at Cape Burks up till early next month and
reach Terra Nova Bay -- the second candidate site for a new research base --
after Feb. 7. Araon left Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan. 12.
Meanwhile, six members from the Araon are expected to fly over to the Russian
ship later in the day by helicopter to start learning the necessary knowhow for
sailing through sheet ice. The first officer from Akademik Petrov will also
transfer over to the Araon to help the crew maneuver the ship in the Southern
Ocean.
In the coming days, the Araon will test its capability to cut through ice up to 1
meter thick at 5.5 kilometers per hour.
After completing the surveys of both sites, the Korean icebreaker will reach
Christchurch on Feb. 19, completing its first mission, and arriving at South
Korea's port of Incheon in mid-March.
Christened last year and equipped with various oceanographic, geophysical and
arctic environment laboratories, the ship has an endurance of 37,000 kilometers,
or about 70 days. It is also designed to provide logistical support to South
Korea's King Sejong Station located on King George Island.
In 2008, South Korea announced plans to open another base in Antarctica sometime
after 2011 to expand its research capabilities on the world's southernmost
continent and gain more experience about extreme conditions on the Earth's polar
region.
In addition to the Antarctic base, the country has an Arctic research facility
called Dasan Station, in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard Islands in Norway.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
